New Image Released of ‘The Mandalorian’ Franchise’s Upgraded Grogu Star

When The Mandalorian premiered on Disney+ in 2019, the live-action series quickly became a defining chapter for the modern Star Wars franchise. What initially looked like a standalone streaming experiment soon developed into one of the saga’s most significant post–Return of the Jedi stories, centered on the unlikely bond between Pedro Pascal’s Din Djarin, the armored bounty hunter played by Pedro Pascal, and the small Force-sensitive child known as Grogu, affectionately nicknamed “Baby Yoda” by fans.

Their journey began as a straightforward bounty assignment, but the story soon evolved into something far deeper. Across three seasons, the relationship between Din and Grogu became the emotional core of the show, exploring themes of found family, redemption, and the long shadow cast by the Jedi Order.

Now the story is heading to theaters with The Mandalorian and Grogu (2026), marking the first time the Disney+ era of Star Wars storytelling will be brought to the big screen.

Set roughly five years after Star Wars: Episode VI–Return of the Jedi (1983), the narrative follows Din Djarin’s transition from a solitary bounty hunter into an unexpected protector as he navigates the uncertain early years of the New Republic.

Over the course of the series, Grogu’s role shifted dramatically. What began with a mysterious child hiding powerful abilities gradually turned into a coming-of-age arc within Mandalorian culture. Din eventually adopts the child formally, with Grogu taking the name Din Grogu as part of Mandalorian tradition.

While the New Republic struggles to stabilize the galaxy and remnants of the Empire quietly regroup, the pair has emerged as a symbol of resilience—and one of the franchise’s most cherished partnerships.

But Grogu’s past and future are both evolving as Lucasfilm prepares to bring the story to theaters. One of the most surprising changes to the character’s history comes not from the upcoming movie, but from tie-in material that alters how he survived one of Star Wars’ darkest moments.

For years, fans speculated about how Grogu escaped Order 66, the purge that nearly wiped out the Jedi Order when clone troopers turned on their Jedi commanders under Emperor Palpatine’s command. Season 3 of The Mandalorian seemed to answer that question by revealing that Jedi Master Kelleran Beq, played by Ahmed Best, rescued the youngling during the attack on the Jedi Temple.

However, a newer comic storyline introduced a twist that broadens the scope of Grogu’s escape. The story now suggests that Jar Jar Binks played an unexpected role in helping the child survive. According to the comic, the Gungan senator assisted Naboo forces in coordinating Grogu’s evacuation and helped arrange passage off Coruscant aboard a Naboo starcruiser.

While subtle, the update reshapes the context around Grogu’s survival. Instead of a single heroic rescue, the moment now appears connected to a wider effort involving allies working behind the scenes during the fall of the Republic.

It also repositions Jar Jar Binks within Star Wars history, giving the character—who has long sparked debate among fans—a meaningful role in protecting a future hero. The revision adds another dimension to Grogu’s place in the galaxy. His survival may have been part of a larger resistance forming even as the Empire rose to power.

Grogu’s journey is also evolving in the present timeline. According to filmmaker Jon Favreau, the version of the character audiences will see in The Mandalorian and Grogu represents a major step forward in his development. Rather than remaining a passive companion during Din’s adventures, Grogu is now firmly established as Din’s apprentice and family member.

Favreau has explained that the creative team wanted Grogu to continue growing as a character rather than staying fixed in the same role. Under Din’s guidance, Grogu is gradually becoming more comfortable balancing his Mandalorian upbringing with his connection to the Force.

That balance is particularly significant because Grogu once trained under Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill). As a result, he stands at the crossroads of two major traditions within Star Wars: Jedi teachings and Mandalorian warrior culture.

The upcoming film is expected to explore how those influences shape his identity moving forward. The once-helpless child is slowly becoming a hero in his own right.

New promotional imagery hints that Grogu will take on a much more active role in the new film. One still reveals the small Force-user captured and confined inside a cage by an Imperial warlord connected to the Empire’s surviving factions.

“there’s not many new in movie pics in the mando and grogu empire issue but there are some including a very juicy one with an imperial warlord who has grogu in a cage”

there’s not many new in movie pics in the mando and grogu empire issue but there are some including a very juicy one with an imperial warlord who has grogu in a cage 😭😭 pic.twitter.com/zxkKdfvC6j

— cam 🌌 (@camandfilm) March 11, 2026

When viewers first met Grogu, he was simply a mysterious infant with remarkable abilities and no clear origin. Today, he’s a Mandalorian foundling, a former Jedi apprentice, and a survivor whose escape from the Jedi Temple involved unlikely allies.

As The Mandalorian and Grogu prepares to bring this story to theaters, Grogu’s arc is clearly entering a new phase. His backstory is expanding, his role in the galaxy is becoming more active, and his future as both a Mandalorian warrior and a Force user is only beginning to take shape.

In a franchise built around destiny and legacy, Grogu may ultimately represent something entirely new—a figure connecting the ancient traditions of the Jedi with the warrior culture of Mandalore.

The cast of The Mandalorian and Grogu is led by Pedro Pascal as Din Djarin, the Mandalorian bounty hunter turned adoptive father to Grogu, with the beloved Force-sensitive child Grogu once again portrayed through puppetry and performance developed by the Lucasfilm creature team.

Sigourney Weaver appears in a newly introduced role connected to the New Republic, Jeremy Allen White voices Rotta the Hutt, and Jonny Coyne returns as an Imperial warlord. The film continues the story established in The Mandalorian, which was created by Jon Favreau, who also writes and produces the movie alongside longtime Star Wars creative leader (and soon-to-be co-CEO) Dave Filoni.

How do you feel about this new version of Grogu? Let us know in the comments down below!